Inercia clínica o terapéutica en neumología: una reflexión sobre su definición y actores principales / Clinical or therapeutic inertia in pneumology: critical reflection on its definition and main actors

La inercia clínica se define como los fallos del médico en el inicio o la intensificación del tratamiento cuando están indicados. Nuestro objetivo es reflexionar sobre este concepto aplicado en enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y asma, y el papel del profesional sanitario y del sistema de salud como actores implicados. Dejamos aparte la inercia del paciente para otro ámbito de estudio e intervención. Proponemos definir la inercia clínica para procesos durante el diagnóstico y el tratamiento cuando no se inicia o modifica (intensifica o disminuye) una terapia. También se identifican los factores que contribuyen a la inercia clínica o terapéutica y se plantean estrategias de mejora. (AU)

Clinical inertia is defined as the physician’s failure to initiate or intensify treatment when it is indicated. Our objective is to reflect on this concept applied to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, and the role of health professional and health system as stakeholders. We leave patient inertia aside for another area of study and intervention. We propose to define clinical inertia for diagnosis and therapeutic processes when a treatment is not started or modified (intensifies or decreases). Factors that contribute to clinical and/or therapeutic inertia are also identified and improvement strategies are proposed. (AU)

Role of therapeutic inertia in glycemic control according to individualized objectives in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes. Results from CONCARDIA2.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic inertia (TI) is the lack of initiation or intensification of treatment when indicated. It contributes to the fact that more than a third of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) do not have adequate metabolic control. We set out to analyze the impact of TI during 4 years of follow-up in a cohort of T2D and its possible variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of a cohort of 297 TD2 patients. We considered TI when treatment was not modified during the 4 years, despite poor control. We contemplate uncontrolled those that did not meet their individualized HbA1c target. RESULTS: Uncontrolled patients: 87; age: 62.2 ±â€¯9.2; 58.7% men. We consider TI in 41.6% of the patients. Average HbA1c 8.22% in patients with treatment intensification of which 43.1% achieved their HbA1c goal, 29.8% were on monotherapy at the beginning, 29.8% double, 36.2% triple and 2,1% in quadruple therapy. There was more change in treatment in people with obesity (67.6 vs. 34.6%; P < 0.01) and the 6 of the study patients with cardiovascular events (P < 0.05). Metformin was part of the treatment in 97.1% of IT cases (vs. 76.6%; P < 0.01). Achievement of the HbA1c target was higher in patients receiving iSGLT2 (0 vs. 68.4%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In 2 out of 5 uncontrolled T2D patients, the treatment was not changed; this was more evident in those patients treated with metformin. Patients with obesity and presence of cardiovascular events seem to protect against IT. Those who were on iSGLT2 have an advantage in meeting their HbA1c target.

O essencial do diagnóstico ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial / The essential from diagnosis to treatment of arterial hypertension

A doença hipertensiva é o principal fator de risco para a mortalidade cardiovascular no mundo. Para tentar melhorar esse cenário, podem-se vislumbrar três ações estratégicas: melhorar o acesso aos cuidados em saúde, aumentar a adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo e quebrar os paradigmas da inércia terapêutica. A hipertensão arterial é doença cujo diagnóstico é rápido, de baixo custo e relativamente fácil. Entretanto, apenas uma em cada cinco pessoas hipertensas está com a pressão arterial controlada. Logo, se as metas pressóricas recomendadas não forem atingidas e mantidas, há maior risco de desfechos cardiovasculares ruins. Estratégias de educação em saúde podem acarretar em maior adesão ao tratamento. Para tanto, deve-se incentivar o esclarecimento da população sobre essa doença, fornecendo-lhe informações pertinentes. Além disso, o profissional médico deve estabelecer estratégias para atingir a meta pressórica, para seus pacientes, por meio do tratamento efetivo. As diretrizes médicas se propõem a oferecer as melhores evidências em diagnóstico e tratamento. No entanto, por vezes, podem ser um tanto confusas e até mesmo complexas para serem utilizadas rotineiramente. A fim de tornar mais simples e objetiva a busca de informações, baseadas em evidências científicas atuais, na conduta dos pacientes hipertensos, propõe-se um fluxograma para consulta rápida. Nele, a hipertensão arterial é conduzida desde o diagnóstico até o tratamento

Hypertensive disease is the main risk factor for cardiovascular mortality worldwide. To improve this scenario, three strategic actions can be envisaged: improving access to health care, increasing adherence to antihypertensive treatment, and breaking the paradigms of therapeutic inertia. Hypertension is a disease whose diagnosis is quick, inexpensive, and relatively easy. However, only one in five people with hypertension has controlled blood pressure. Therefore, if the recommended blood pressure goals are not met and maintained, there is an increased risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes. Health education strategies can lead to greater adherence to treatment. Therefore, the population should be informed about this disease, providing them with pertinent information. In addition, the medical professional must establish strategies to reach the blood pressure goal, for their patients, through effective treatment. Medical guidelines purport to provide the best evidence in diagnosis and treatment. However, sometimes they can be quite confusing and even complex to use routinely. To make the search for information, based on current scientific evidence, in the management of hypertensive patients simpler and more objective, a flowchart for quick consultation is proposed. In it, arterial hypertension is conducted from diagnosis to treatment

Estudio DISCOVER en la población argentina / Discover study in the argentine population

Introducción: la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) es una enfermedad metabólica de alta prevalencia que constituye un importante factor de riesgo cardiovascular, en la cual los pacientes no sólo se diagnostican tardíamente, sino que permanecen por tiempos prolongados con mal control de la glucemia y de los demás factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Se registra una significativa inercia terapéutica en la implementación de drogas antidiabéticas en la segunda línea de tratamiento. Objetivos: el objetivo principal del estudio DISCOVER fue proporcionar datos del mundo real para evaluar la terapéutica antidiabética y los resultados clínicos prospectivos en pacientes con DM2 que inician una terapia farmacológica de segunda línea para la reducción de la glucemia. El objetivo secundario fue informar los datos de referencia de Argentina comparados con pacientes del mundo global, incluyendo variables metabólicas, edad, antigüedad de la enfermedad y riesgo cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: DISCOVER es un estudio observacional, prospectivo, de tres años de duración, en el cual participaron pacientes de 37 países con DM2, con mal control glucémico, que requerían una terapia antidiabética de segunda línea. Argentina participó con 14 centros urbanos. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: pacientes con diagnóstico de DM2 mayores de 18 años que requerían segunda línea de tratamiento para control de la glucemia luego del tratamiento de primera línea oral, con una monoterapia, o terapia doble o triple administrada como combinación de dosis fija. Resultados: se presentan los datos correspondientes a la Argentina. Se enrolaron 299 pacientes con diagnóstico de DM2 (51,3% hombres) que estaban fuera del objetivo de control glucémico (el control glucémico se estableció de acuerdo al valor de HbA1c de <7% según los criterios de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes, ADA 2020). La edad media fue de 59 años±10 años. El valor medio de la HbA1c fue de 8,8%±1,9% con glucemia en ayunas promedio de 182,9 mg/dl±59,6 mg/dl. Se registró una media de índice de masa corporal (IMC) de 32,2kg/m2 ± 6,0kg/m2. Argentina tuvo un porcentaje alto de sujetos mayores de 25 años con IMC elevado (90%). Un importante porcentaje de los parámetros lipídicos estaba fuera de los objetivos de control para pacientes con diabetes. La guía ADA 2020 recomienda el uso de estatinas de moderada potencia con los siguientes valores de LDL colesterol (LDLc): <100 mg/dl para pacientes con diabetes sin enfermedad cardiovascular y de <70 mg/dl para pacientes con diabetes y enfermedad cardiovascular, uso de estatinas de alta potencia y valores de triglicéridos <150 mg/dl siguiendo los criterios de ADA 2020. Los valores medios de colesterol total fueron de 188 mg/dl± 44 mg/dl para LDLc 114,39 mg/dl±10 mg/dl y los triglicéridos con una media 180,1mg/dl±97,6mg/dl. En el seguimiento a dos años se verificó un descenso estadísticamente significativo de los niveles de glucemia y HbA1c, así como de los parámetros lipídicos, aunque no se lograron los objetivos de tratamiento recomendados, a pesar de lo cual sólo aproximadamente el 52% de los pacientes recibía tratamiento con estatinas. Las drogas antidiabéticas más utilizadas en la segunda línea fueron los inhibidores de DPP-4 y las sulfonilureas. Conclusiones: se reconoció un alto grado de inercia en cuanto a la progresión para establecer una segunda línea de tratamiento, a partir del nivel alto de HbA1c con que se inició el mismo. Este estudio puso de manifiesto la situación del control metabólico, factores de riesgo cardiovascular asociados y el tratamiento de la DM2 en el mundo real de nuestro país, a partir de lo cual deben tomarse las medidas necesarias con el objetivo de mejorar los parámetros presentados y evaluarlos con estudios similares al actual. Es importante continuar trabajando para evitar la progresión de la diabetes hacia las complicaciones crónicas en aquellos pacientes que ya desarrollaron la enfermedad.

Introduction: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent metabolic disease, which constitutes an important cardiovascular risk factor, in which patients are not only diagnosed late, but remain for prolonged times, with glycemic and other cardiovascular risk factors poorly controlled. There is a significant therapeutic inertia in the implementation of antidiabetic drugs in the second line of treatment. Objectives: the main objective of the DISCOVER study was to provide real-world data to assess antidiabetic therapy and prospective clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM who initiate a second line pharmacological therapy for blood glucose reduction. The secondary objective was to obtain data from Argentina on glycemic control, metabolic control, comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and the concomitant therapeutic approach compared to the global world. Materials and methods: DISCOVER is a prospective 3-year observational study in which patients from 37 countries with T2DM with poor glycemic control who required second line antidiabetic therapy were involved. Argentina participated with 14 urban centers. Inclusion criteria were: patients with a diagnosis of T2DM over 18 years of age who require a second line of treatment for glycemic control after oral first line treatment, with monotherapy, or double or triple therapy administered as a fixed dose combination. Results: Argentina data are presented. 299 patients with a diagnosis of T2DM, were enrolled (51.3% men) who were outside the objective of glycemic control (glycemic control was established according to the HbA1c value of <7% according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association, ADA 2020). Mean age was 59 years±10 years. The mean HbA1c value was 8.8%±1.9% with an average fasting glucose of 182.9 mg/dl ±59.6 mg/dl. An average body mass index (BMI) of 32.2kg/m2 ±6.0 kg/m2 was recorded. Argentina had a high percentage of subjects over 25 years with high BMI (90%). A high percentage of lipids parameters were outside the control objectives for diabetic patients. The ADA 2020 guidelines recommends the use of moderately potent statin with the following LDL colesterol (LDLc) values <100 mg/dl for patients without cardiovascular disease and LDLc <70 mg/dl for patients with cardiovascular disease and use of high potency statin and trygliceride values <150 mg/dl following the criteria ADA 2020 guidelines. The average total cholesterol values were 188 mg/dl±44 mg/dl, for LDLc 114.39 mg/dl±10 mg/dl. Triglycerides with a mean 180.1 mg/dl±97.6 mg/dl. A two year follow up showed a statistically significant decrease in blood glucose and HbA1c levels, as well as lipids parameters, although the recommended treatment goals were not achieved, in despite of which only 25% of patients received statin treatment. The most used antidiabetic drugs in the second line were sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors. Conclusions: a high degree of inertia was recognized in terms of progression to establish a second line of treatment, based on the high level of HbA1c with which it was initiated. This study showed the situation of metabolic control, associated cardiovascular risk factors and the treatment of T2DM in the real world of our country. Necessary measures must be taken in order to improve the parameters presented and they must be able to be evaluated with studies similar to the current one. It is important to continue working to prevent the progression of diabetes toward chronic complications in those patients who have already developed the disease.

Controle pressórico e inércia terapêutica no ambulatório escola da Universidade Iguaçu / Pressure control and therapeutic inertia in the outpatient school of the Iguaçu University

Introdução: Conhecer as taxas de controle da pressão do Ambulatório Escola da Universidade Iguaçu, as estratégias terapêuticas e a taxa de inércia terapêutica frente aos pacientes não controlados, são fundamentais para estabelecer estratégias de alcance de metas pressóricas. Objetivo: Determinar a taxa de pacientes na meta e fora da meta de pressão arterial, a estratégia terapêutica em uso e a taxa de inércia terapêutica frente aos pacientes não controlados. Metodologia: Estudo observacional, prospectivo e analítico através de análise dos prontuários e entrevista com pacientes consecutivos atendidos no ambulatório escola da Universidade Iguaçu, com >18 anos, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2019. Análise de dados demográficos, condições clínicas associadas e presença de outros fatores de risco. Resultados: 202 pacientes estudados na pesquisa, faixa etária de 18 a 85 anos, com 91,08% dos pacientes com hipertensão arterial (40 e 79 anos). Analisando as taxas de controle, 61,38 % encontram-se na meta de pressão arterial de acordo com o risco cardiovascular, segundo a Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, e 38,6%, dos pacientes não se encontram na meta. A adesão terapêutica elevada foi observada em 29,83% dos pacientes na meta vrs 26,92% dos pacientes fora da meta. A taxa de inercia terapêutica foi de 41,03% pacientes com conduta mantida. Conclusão: Dos pacientes atendidos, 38,61% estão fora da meta de pressão arterial, e a inercia terapêutica é um importante problema. Como a maioria dos pacientes hipertensos sem comorbidades são acompanhados nas unidades básicas de saúde por generalistas, a capacitação desses profissionais é de grande importância para um melhor controle da pressão arterial.

Introduction:Knowing the pressure control rates of the outpatient school at the Iguaçu University, therapeutic strategies and the rate of therapeutic inertia in the face of uncontrolled patients are essential to establish strategies to achieve pressure goals. Objective: Determine the rate of patients on and off the blood pressure target, the therapeutic strategy in use and the rate of therapeutic inertia compared to uncontrolled patients. Methodology:Observational, prospective and analytical study through analysis of medical records and interviews with consecutive patients over 18 years old seen at the outpatient school at Universidade Iguaçu, from August to December 2019. Analysis of demographic data, associated clinical conditions and the presence of others risk factors. Results:202 patients studied in the research, age range from 18 to 85 years, with 91.08% of patients with arterial hypertension (40 and 79 years). Analyzing the control rates, 61.38% are on the blood pressure target according to cardiovascular risk, according to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, and 38.6%, of the patients are not on the target. High therapeutic adherence was observed in 29.83% of patients on target vs. 26.92% of patients off target. The therapeutic inertia rate was 41.3% of patients in the target. Conclusion: Of the patients seen, 38.61% are outside the blood pressure target, and therapeutic inertia is an important problem. As the majority of hypertensive patients without comorbidities are monitored in basic health units by general practitioners, the training of these professionals is of great importance for a better control of blood pressure

[Impact of cognitive biases in therapeutic inertia in arterial hypertension: Not everything is as it seems]. / Impacto de los sesgos cognitivos en la inercia terapéutica en hipertensión arterial: no todo es lo que parece.

Therapeutic inertia is defined as the failure to take therapeutic decisions, such as initiating, adding or increasing the dose of a drug during patient follow-up, despite there being an indication to do so. It is currently considered that therapeutic inertia is a considerable impediment to achieving adequate control of hypertension, and this has implications for the prognosis of the disease. Therapeutic inertia might be due to various factors involving physicians, patients and the health system. Many studies have attempted to find determinants for therapeutic inertia in hypertension and to explain the reasons why health professionals in charge of treatment are failing to make the appropriate modifications to therapy. The many reasons for therapeutic inertia on the part of physicians include the various cognitive and affective biases that influence clinical reasoning and decision-making during healthcare activity in doctors' surgeries. Identifying and recognising these cognitive and affective biases could be important for planning educational strategies for health professionals. This requires a multi-dimensional approach, including knowledge beyond that observed in terms of insufficient information and updating on the disease, and starting to analyse and consider other reasons. Preventing therapeutic inertia should be made a priority along with other important measures to control hypertension and minimise its consequences.

Determinants of inertia with lipid-lowering treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. / Determinantes de la inercia en el tratamiento hipolipidemiante de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the control of cLDL in diabetic patients, to measure the impact on such control of inertia with lipid-lowering agents and to explore factors that allow for predicting this inertia. METHODS: Study of historical cohorts of diabetic patients. The proportion of patients who achieved the target cLDL levels was estimated. Therapeutic inertia was considered when the dose of the lipid-lowering agents was not adjusted, or a lipid-lowering agent was not changed or added in patients with initial cLDL outside the target. Change in cLDL from the first to the last visit and inertia with lipid-lowering drugs were analyzed according to comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and treatments used. RESULTS: The study simple consisted of 639 patients (mean follow-up time 11.1±11.2 months), of whom 27.5% achieved target cLDL levels. Inertia occurred in 43,6% of patients with initial cLDL outside the target. Independent predictors of inertia were the initial cLDL (P<0.001), polyneuropathy (P=0.014), adjustment of antihypertensive agents (P=0.002), adequacy of lipid-lowering agents (P<0.001), use of ezetimibe (P=0.001) and adherence to lipid-lowering drugs (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Inertia with lipid-lowering agents in a diabetic patient is less frequent in the presence of higher cLDL values, in cases of polyneuropathy, when antihypertensive agents are adjusted or changed, and when non-adherence is detected. The adequate initial prescription of statins and the association with ezetimibe decrease the likelihood of committing inertia.

Decalogue of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis to reduce therapeutic inertia. / Decálogo de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis para disminuir la inercia terapéutica.

Therapeutic inertia (TI) is defined as the failure of the physician to initiate or intensify a treatment when the therapeutic goal has not been achieved. TI can be of 2types: inertia due to lack of prescription of drugs and inertia in the absence of control of a risk factor. The consequences of TI are poor control of risk factors, an increase in potentially preventable events and an increase in costs. There are factors of the doctor himself, the patient and the care organization that determine the presence of TI. Ten measures are proposed to reduce TI: to promote continuing education, to define clearly therapeutic objectives, to establish audits, to implement computerized medical records with alerts, to encourage research in this field, to disseminate clinical practice guidelines, to create motivational incentives, to organize care, to improve the doctor-patient relationship and to involve other health care providers.

[Therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetic patients in Primary Health Care]. / Inercia terapéutica en el manejo de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en el ámbito de la Atención Primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess therapeutic inertia (TI) in the management of type 2 diabetic patients (DM2), as regards glycemic and lipid control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1: All the patients were older than 14 years, diagnosed with DM2 up to 28th February 2013, and their last determination of HbA1c was ≥ 8.5%. Group 2: All patients, under 60 years old, diagnosed with DM2 between the 1st January 2011 and the 31st December 2012, with no chronic complications and their last determination of HbA1c was ≥ 6.5%. RESULTS: Group 1: 253 patients were included (13% of DM2 diagnosed). TI was 43% for DM2, 83% for LDL cholesterol, and 80% for triglycerides. TI was lower (P=.037) in patients with HbA1c ≥ 10%. There was no difference in TI as regards the management of lipid profile depending on the HbA1c levels. Group 2: All DM2 patients (n=53) who met inclusion criteria were assessed (2.7% of DM2 diagnosed). Percentage of visits of those patients that had TI: 55% for DM2, 63% for LDL cholesterol and 64% for triglycerides. A more intense therapy was observed in patients with HbA1c>7.5% in 3 of the 5 visits made. CONCLUSIONS: TI in both groups was high and there is a lack of recording the reasons for this. It is important to improve the attitude of the professionals who care for the diabetic population.

[Unmet needs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes]. / Necesidades no cubiertas en el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

Type 2 diabetes represents one of the most important health problems, provided due to its high prevalence and significant morbi-mortality. At present time, we know that an intensive control of all cardiovascular risk factors from the beginning prevents the appearance and progression of micro and macrovascular complications. Nevertheless, only few patients achieve the degree of metabolic control recommended by diabetes therapeutic guidelines. This is due to different reasons such as lack of patients compliance and therapeutic inertia by doctors. Also, the available therapeutic approaches are limited. We still do not have the ideal antidiabetic drug, which should be able to be used in all phases of the disease, have sustained durability, be well tolerated not inducing hypoglycaemia, and promote weight loss, cardiovascular protection and reducing morbi-mortality at a low cost. The launching of new drugs with attractive mechanisms of action and few side effects may help to achieve these goals, though we still should wait for the results of studies demonstrating their effect on cardiovascular endpoints.

[Unmet needs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes]. / Necesidades no cubiertas en el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

Type 2 diabetes represents one of the most important health problems, provided due to its high prevalence and significant morbi-mortality. At present time, we know that an intensive control of all cardiovascular risk factors from the beginning prevents the appearance and progression of micro and macrovascular complications. Nevertheless, only few patients achieve the degree of metabolic control recommended by diabetes therapeutic guidelines. This is due to different reasons such as lack of patients compliance and therapeutic inertia by doctors. Also, the available therapeutic approaches are limited. We still do not have the ideal antidiabetic drug, which should be able to be used in all phases of the disease, have sustained durability, be well tolerated not inducing hypoglycaemia, and promote weight loss, cardiovascular protection and reducing morbi-mortality at a low cost. The launching of new drugs with attractive mechanisms of action and few side effects may help to achieve these goals, though we still should wait for the results of studies demonstrating their effect on cardiovascular endpoints.

[Beat therapeutic inertia in dyslipidemic patient management: A challenge in daily clinical practice] [corrected]. / Vencer la inercia terapéutica en el manejo del paciente dislipidémico: Un reto en la práctica clínica diaria.

Beat therapeutic inertia in dyslipidemic patient management: a challenge in daily clinical practice. In patients with dyslipidemia, there is the need to reach the therapeutic goals in order to get the maximum benefit in the cardiovascular events risk reduction, especially myocardial infarction. Even having guidelines and some powerful hypolipidemic drugs, the goals of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) are often not reached, being of special in patients with a high cardiovascular risk. One of the causes is the therapeutic inertia. There are tools to plan the treatment and make the decisions easier. One of the challenges in everyday clinical practice is to know the needed percentage of reduction in LDL-c. Moreover: it is hard to know which one is the treatment we should use in the beginning of the treatment but also when the desired objective is not reached. This article proposes a practical method that can help solving these questions.

[Control of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Spain today: identification of the main obstacles in daily clinical practice]. / Situación actual del control de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en España. Identificación de las principales barreras en la práctica clínica diaria.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a highly prevalent chronic disease with major social and healthcare repercussions due to the development of acute and chronic complications. The care of patients with DM2 represents between 6.3% and 7.4% of the budget of the Spanish national health service and is mainly centered on hospital admissions and hypoglycemic agents, leading to an annual expenditure of 1.290 € to 1.476 € per patient. The attainment of glycemic targets remains complex and inadequate, despite new drugs for the treatment of DM2, the available scientific evidence, and national and international guidelines. The main causes proposed for failure to achieve these targets in DM2 are clinical inertia (found in 40% of physicians in Spain treating patients with HbA1c > 7%), poor treatment adherence, the problems inherent to the health system, and the natural history of the disease.